School of Arts and Culture’s plan to revitalize an East San Jose block

There’s a lot of optimism right now for the School of Arts and Culture at Mexican Heritage Plaza, which is spreading the word about an ambitious $20 million expansion plan that would revitalize an underused retail block across the street from its home in East San Jose.

Co-Executive Directors Vanessa Shieh and Jessica Paz-Cedillos shared details with more than 300 supporters Saturday afternoon at the organization’s Tres Vinos celebration and fundraiser at the Mexican Heritage Plaza. Part of the impetus for the creation of a cultural district in East San Jose with “La Plaza” at its center is to stave off gentrification.

“Every time we activate this local gem that sees over 150,000 people a year and brings diverse communities from the East Side and the Greater Bay Area together, we add to the desirability of our neighborhood,” Paz-Cedillos said. “We, like many cultural institutions, are part of the gentrification problem unless we boldly take on systemic change or, like ‘La Plaza,’ lean into community development and put our stake in the ground to ensure the development that takes place here is serving us.”

The plan, known as “La Avenida,” would transform a vacant, 30,000-square-foot retail space on Alum Rock Avenue into a 200-seat theater and a community-oriented cafe, along with a wellness center run by Gardner Health Services. The Mexican Heritage Plaza’s current parking lot and a gravel-covered courtyard would be used for a 6-story parking garage topped with a park, affordable housing for 100 families and a multistory office and retail building.

About 80 percent of the project’s funding has been committed already, and the capital campaign to fill the gap got a big boost from San Jose philanthropist Al Castellano, who pledged $500,000 at Saturday’s event. The whole project should take about five to 10 years to complete, and you can see more details at www.schoolofartsandculture.org/capital-campaign.

Chris Esparza, director of community development for the School of Arts and Culture, said the extra theater space is desperately needed and could create a cultural hub for the Mayfair neighborhood. The 500-seat theater at the Mexican Heritage Plaza is sometimes booked 18 months out, he said, and is too big for some groups. “What you see here is our future, our community’s future,” Esparza said.

LAST CHANCE: If you didn’t get a chance to view the incredible and artistic altars on display at the Mexican Heritage Plaza for Día de los Muertos, you’ve got until Nov. 2 to do so. There are more than a half-dozen altars created by local artists, including Racquel Burciaga, Paty Tapia and Elizabeth Jimenez Montelongo, that celebrate aspects of Mexican culture and history.